THE number of mobile customers at Optus has broken through 8 million, with users up 10.5 per cent on a year ago helped by consumer demand for "smart" phones.
The telco's parent, SingTel, which reports its first-quarter financial results today, said 213,000 new mobile and wireless broadband customers signed onto Optus in the June quarter, including 139,000 post-paid customers.
The company said the growth was underpinned by demand for the Apple iPhone, other smart phones and plans including unlimited calls and text messages in Australia.
Optus' 3G customers rose to 2.76 million in the quarter.
The telco also confirmed yesterday that its D3 satellite, which will allow television broadcasters to increase the number of channels they offer, will be launched on August 22.
The satellite will enable Optus to provide more services to its customers, including pay-TV provider Foxtel which has already said it will launch more than 25 new channels and a range of interactive services around October.
Optus' satellite director Paul Sheridan said the new satellite would increase Optus' satellite capacity, "support existing customers including Foxtel and Sky New Zealand and enable the development of new business opportunities for broadcast television and the direct-to-home market".
The satellite, which is Optus' ninth, is scheduled to be launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, off the north coast of South America.
It is expected to provide services for more than 15 years.
Optus has invested more than $600 million in the "D" satellite series, with D1 launched in October 2006 and D2 a year later.
In May, Optus signed a $100 million agreement to provide satellite services to the ABC for eight years.
Its main rival, Telstra, will also report its full-year results to the market today.
SingTel shares rose 3c, or 1.12 per cent, to $2.70. Telstrashares closed up 1c at $3.61.
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